9 Days Kilimanjaro Hike Via Rongai Route
The Rongai Route is one of the most aesthetically pleasing and least congested on Mount Kilimanjaro and is a genuine “wilderness experience.” This luxury 9-day trekking package is designed for climbers who want to climb Africa’s highest mountain comfortably and in style. Enjoy upgraded lodges with gourmet meals, private tents, and personalized service, providing a combination of adventure, luxury, and stunning nature.
Tour Highlights.
Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport – Transfer to your Hotel in Arusha.
Day 2: Full Day Safari in Arusha National Park
Day 3: Rongai Gate to Simba Camp (2,650 m).
Day 4: Simba Camp to Kikelewa Camp (3,600 m).
Day 5: Kikelewa Camp to Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4,330 m).
Day 6: Mawenzi Tarn to Kibo Hut (4,700 m).
Day 7: Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) and back down to Horombo Hut (3,720 m).
Day 8: Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate – Transfer to Arusha.
Day 9: Departure Day.
Detailed itinerary.
Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport – Transfer to your Hotel in Arusha.
Once you land at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be greeted by a professional guide holding a welcome sign customized for you. You will be driven to your downtown hotel in a luxury vehicle (e.g., Gran Melia Arusha or Lake Duluti Lodge), both five-star hotels in picturesque gardens with views of Mount Meru.
After check-in, you will receive a welcome drink and take time to refresh from your flight. In the evening, the head guide will meet with you for a full climb briefing, check your equipment, and complete a health and safety orientation. Dinner will be served in a fine dining restaurant with international and local cuisine options.
Day 2: Full-Day Safari in Arusha National Park.
Before your trek, you will have a chance to experience Arusha National Park, a small but beautiful park with lakes, waterfalls, and wildlife. You will enjoy a luxury guided game drive, with a chance of seeing giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, and black and white colobus monkeys.
You will be able to picnic for lunch near the beautiful Momella Lakes, with the possibility of seeing flamingos there. Plus, you’ll enjoy a short guided nature walk with one of the park rangers, with great views of Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro in the distance. You will then head back to your hotel for dinner and relax in the evening.
Day 3: Rongai Gate to Simba Camp (2,650 m).
After breakfast, you will leave Arusha and drive to the Rongai Gate on the northern side of the mountain, not far from the Kenyan border. The drive is very scenic with the rolling countryside, local villages, and hills in the distance. Upon reaching the gate, you will check in and then meet your mountain team: the porters, guides, and cooks are there as your support network.
The journey starts with a walking view along dirt roads through the surviving pine trees and farmland and gradually begins to climb up to Simba Camp. The pathway is calm and not crowded, contributing to the only wilderness experience. When you arrive, you will find your luxury tent equipped with a comfortable bed, warm lighting, and other basic modern sleeping arrangements. A hot shower (portable), as well as a 3-course meal under the stars, will be provided that evening.
Day 4: Simba Camp to Kikelewa Camp (3,600 m).
Today’s trek is on beautiful open moorland with unobstructed views of the snowcapped Kibo Peak. The trail is relatively flat allowing for plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and take photos. Lunch will be trail provided as well, with warm soup and fruits and snacks. Again, passengers will arrive to Kikelewa Camp in the late afternoon, located in a sheltered valley with giant lobelias.
Day 5: Kikelewa Camp to Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4,330 m).
Taste the brilliance of breakfast, journeying along the grassy slopes toward Mawenzi Tarn, which is a spectacular camp in the shadow of the sharp Mawenzi peaks. The surrounding scenery is alpine, with exposed rocks and the dramatic views of the plains below.
Upon arrival at Mawenzi Tarn Camp in the early afternoon, there will be time to rest and explore the ridge for acclimatization. Later in the afternoon, enjoy a warm towel service followed by a full-course dinner prepared by your private mountain chef. Nights on the Rongai route are peaceful and starry.
Day 6: Mawenzi Tarn to Kibo Hut (4,700 m).
Today’s trek crosses the saddle, the broad, desert-like swath of land between Mawenzi and Kibo peaks. It is a long but fairly level walk, that gives a sense of the vastness of the Kilimanjaro landscapes. A packed lunch will be enjoyed along the way, arriving at Kibo Hut, the last camp before your summit attempt.
You will spend the afternoon resting, staying hydrated, and preparing your gear for the early morning summit climb. After an early dinner, you will be debriefed about the summit plan with your guide. The excitement starts to build as you prepare to take the final steps to the top of Africa.
Day 7: Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) and back down to Horombo Hut (3,720 m).
This is the summit day and the most difficult day of your adventure. You will wake around midnight for the slow, steady climb under flashlight through the frozen volcanic area. Step-by-step, you will arrive at Gilman’s Point (5,681 m), on the crater rim, for your first view with light of morning. Then it is a short inspiring walk to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), the highest point in Africa. This is, of course, the pinnacle of your journey, and you will be able to take in the sweeping view of the sunrise over the continent and take some lifetime photos.
Once you have celebrated at the summit, you will climb down to Kibo Hut for breakfast, and then continue on to Horombo Hut to rest and enjoy a hot meal to reward yourself.
Day 8: Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate – Transfer to Arusha.
After breakfast, you will descend through the rain forest full of singing birds and playful monkeys. The last leg of your journey to Marangu Gate is approximately 4-5 hours. Upon reaching the gate, you will receive your Kilimanjaro Climbing Certificate to commemorate your successful ascent to Uhuru Peak.
Your tour guide will be waiting for you in a private vehicle and will transfer you to Arusha, where a luxurious room and warm shower await you. You will enjoy a farewell dinner celebrating your arduous adventure in the evening.
Day 9: Departure Day.
After breakfast, you will enjoy some time to relax or visit Arusha before being collected for your transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure flight. Ending a great trip, an extraordinary experience in comfort, challenge, and triumph on the world’s tallest freestanding mountain.
End of 9 Days Kilimanjaro Hike Via Rongai Route
Inclusions.
Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
Two nights’ accommodation at a 5-star hotel in Arusha (before and after the climb)
All Park, Camping and Rescue Fees
Professional English-Speaking Mountain Guides, Porters and Cooks
Luxury camping setup up with Large Tents, comfortable beds, and Portable Toilets
Private Dining Tent and Personal Chef
All meals during the trek (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and drinks)
Bottled drinking water, soft drinks and hot beverages
Safari exclusions.
International flights and visa fees.
Travel and Medical Insurance.
Hiking gear (boots, jackets, poles, and so on).
Tips for guides, cooks, and porters.
